Camp CAEN - Dorm Questions

1. How many students and counselors stay in the dorms?
2. What is in each room?
3. What is there to do in the dorms?
4. Do I have to share a dorm with someone?
5. Can I request a roommate?
6. What if I don't have a friend to room with?
7. Can I bring my own computer?
8. How does the dorm network work?
9. What should I bring?
10. What is the food like?
11. Can I just order a pizza?
12. How late can I stay up?
13. Can I go somewhere else besides the dorm?
14. What activities will we be doing on the weekend and in the evenings?

1: How many students and counselors stay in the dorms?

Usually, there are around 40 campers who come for the residential program each session. Campers stay in Bursley Residence Hall on North Campus and are supervised at all times. There is one Lead Resident Advisor Counselor who is in charge at all times.  This person has University training to handle emergencies, as well as prior experience being an RA in the dorms for University Students. Our lead RA this year is a U-M CoE graduate who will be attending grad school this fall in BioEngineering. There are also approximately 5-6 additional counselors (undergrad students) on duty at all times outside of the times when students are in class.  In addition, our Camp Director and Camp Assistant Director will be checking in regularly with all of the residential activities.

2: What is in each room?

In all rooms there are two beds, two dressers and a desk with a reading light. All dorms have a sliding window with a screen (it can get stuffy in the dorms especially in late July and August). Each room has a phone as well, but only local calls are free; long distance calls require a phone card. Other than that the rooms are pretty bare-bones, but all you really need them for is sleeping. Campers may opt to rent a refrigerator when they arrive for a fee of approximately $30 for the two-week stay.

3: What is there to do in the dorms?

The dorms are generally just used to eat, sleep and hang out. Bursley is a great place to sit and play cards or talk, but mostly campers stay in the rooms and play network games.

4: Do I have to share a dorm with someone?

Yes, all campers share a double suite with another camper. These rooms are more then big enough for both of your clothes, books, computer equipment and other such necessities.

5: Can I request a roommate?

Sure! If a friend of yours is attending camp at the same time, it can be arranged so you two are in the same room. Included in your acceptance packet is a roommate request form, you may use that to choose a particular roommate.

6: What if I don't have a friend to room with?

Don't worry, many campers are in the exact same position as you are. You will be paired with another camper who is close to you in age.

7: Can I bring my own computer?

Yes, each dorm has network access, but bringing a computer is not necessary. Furthermore, CAEN will not be responsible should you lose or damage your computer at camp. As the official FAQ says, you will have a roommate and so you must be careful, it?s safer if you do not bring a computer, but it is not restricted.

8: How does the dorm network work?

The dorm is networked with the standard 10 megabit Ethernet, connected to the University backbone, offering amazing Internet speeds. We usually spend the first Sunday getting computers online and working. Almost every operating system is supported. So far we haven't had any problems getting a computer on the network. Be sure, however, to bring or rent a hub or router and a patch cable: each dorm room has only one active Ethernet jack, meaning only one person can use the network at a time without a hub or router. There is also a lounge in Bursley that provides wireless access.

9: What should I bring?

Bring anything that you'd need for any two week trip: clothes (there are pay-per-use washing machines), toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc), classroom materials (paper, pencils, pens, any books), and of course any computer equipment you'd like. Be careful not to bring too much stuff: generally toys like a Gamecube, XBox or PS2 are not necessities, especially seeing as there aren't TVs in the rooms. Check out Resident Checklist and Commuter Checklist for a complete list of stuff to bring.

10: What is the food like?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Bursley Residence Hall Cafeteria for residential students. The meals are changed daily, and there are usually enough options for there everyone's taste. Vegetarian entrees are offered daily. On the weekends, we also eat out in local restaurants, have picnics, and sometimes order take-out (e.g. Subs, Chinese food, Pizza). All meals are provided for residential students daily. However, some campers also like to bring snacks and drinks for the dorms.

11: Can I just order a pizza?

Sure, there are many restaurants that will deliver to Bursley, ranging from pizza to subs. With the good quality of the food they serve in the cafeteria however, there really isn't a need to order out. It is also important to note that campers need to have food ordered so that it will arrive before lights out.

12: How late can I stay up?

This changes from camp to camp, even session to session. Campers are required to be back in the dorms by 10:30 pm (you will be checked in), with lights out at 11:00. You are allowed to stay up and play games or what have you for a little bit. We will be waking you up around 7:30 the next morning, so you have to be able to get up so you won't miss class.

13: Can I go somewhere else besides the dorm?

There usually isn't a problem if you want to go other places, especially the Pierpont Commons, EECS or the Duderstadt Center during free time. The only requirement is that you are with a counselor or CIT whenever you leave the dorms. Many campers opt to head out during free time and get some fresh air, visit the local sites, or head over to the North Campus Recreational Building (NCRB) for basketball or swimming.

15: What activities will we be doing on the weekend and in the evenings?

On the weekday nights, we have a variety of activities such as going to the North Campus Recreational Building (NCRB) for basketball or swimming. We also play computer games, field sports (frisbee, Capture the Flag), and do some exploring around the University of Michigan Campus. On the weekends, we have some field trips planned for Bowling, Laser Tag, and the Rolling Hills Water Park (be sure to bring a swim suit).